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Begging

Poodle Begging Behavior

Overview

Canines are very smart and possess many talents. However, they can have one skill that you may wish they weren’t so clever about. Poodles are masters at begging. And, it's the one behavior that causes you to cave in, over and over again. From the standard sized Poodle to the toy size under your table, they can have you feeding them at their whim.

Begging can involve a host of behaviors: Barking, whining, jumping, using 'sad puppy eyes,' and above all, they just don't quit. A Poodle that has learned the art of begging can be like a one-track train on an endless loop; stubborn and sure that he can convince you enough to achieve his goal. 

In this section, we’ll dive into begging behavior, covering what you need to know to put a permanent stop to it, without feeling as if you’re being ‘mean’ to your Poodle. 

Why Begging Behavior Should be Addressed

Though it may seem that begging is frustratingly one-sided (you are stressed but your Poodle gets what he’s after), it actually goes deeper than this. Begging can be very stressful for a dog. 

While trying to find the method that gets you to give in, they are burning energy at a fantastic pace. They are on "high alert" to obtain a technique that works, and their brains are working hard too. Frankly, it's intense! 

In addition, if you are giving into begging by offering foods that your Poodle really should not be eating, this of course, is not good for your puppy or dog's health. 

Why Dogs Beg

If something is broken, or in this case, undesirable, you have to know why to fix it. Here are some reasons why canines beg.

1. The dog isn’t sure of what will happen. If you aren't saying ‘No,' then your Poodle knows that ‘maybe' can be pushed to a ‘yes' under the right circumstances. When a canine wants something, especially food, they are going to keep testing you to find their boundaries. This is doubly so with Poodles.

2. The dog knows that you’re going give in. Come on, let’s face it. You’re a softie! All it takes is some work on their part, for long enough, and you will give your Poodle what they want. Time isn’t the same for a dog; it's about the goal. So, one minute or one hour of begging doesn't matter. If you have taught your dog that they are going to get what they want at some point, then they will work until they get that result again.

Why Owners Give In

Your Poodle is getting what they want, but you are getting something too. You feel like you're showing love via a snack. Why? Because we want those we love to be happy, even if it's temporary. Seriously, begging pulls at our emotions. It's why one renowned commercial for a bacon-flavored dog treat used begging as the main crux of their product.

Passing your Poodle what they want makes them stop, even if it's only for a little while. And, part of you feels good that you’ve made your dog happy. 

Unfortunately, that is short-lived. By giving in, you just reinforced that behavior and if you don't take control of it, can become a huge ‘bone' of contention.

How to Stop a Poodle from Begging

1. Assess what you are feeding for meals and regular snacks. If your Poodle’s diet is lacking proper nutrients or has fillers, begging is practically expected. Low nutrient levels leave a dog craving certain foods. And, fillers (like corn, soy, etc.) make a dog feel full right after eating, but then hunger develops soon afterward as those fillers pass right through the body, undigested and un-absorbed. 

So, if your Poodle begs despite having a good appetite or you are not sure about the quality of the food that you’re offering, think about if there needs to be a change. 

You may want to consider a kibble like Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry . This comes in both a ‘Small Breed’ formula for toy Poodles and a regular kibble for minis and standard Poodles. 
For snacks, stick with all-natural choices as well.  Fruitables Pumpkin & Banana Crunchy Treats is a great choice for all Poodle varieties.
2. Decide what your Poodle is allowed and not allowed to eat. If your dog goes nuts every time you have a banana, you may decide to add some sliced banana to your Poodle’s breakfast. Or, if tuna gets your Poodle begging like crazy, you may wish to routinely add this to dinner. Whatever goes on the ‘can do’ list should be worked into meals. What goes on the ‘no can do’ list should be 100% off limits. In other words, no matter how much your Poodle begs, the answer will be ‘no’.  
3. Get everyone on the same page. We all know someone who was on a ‘diet,' and someone kept trying to tempt them with candy bars, ice cream and other foods that weren't ideal at the time. It's the same for your dog. Everyone has to be in total agreement. One person can't give in constantly while the other person is trying to train the Poodle to behave. If you have someone sabotaging your training, it will not work. Unite and reap the rewards you desire, it's not an unreachable goal. 
4. Ignore the nonsense. It works like this: Your Poodle begs. You don't give in. You don't have to look over and you don't even need to act like you noticed. Yes, it can be a bit harder to do if you haven't done that before, but you can do this. Eye contact lets your dog know you are acknowledging the request. Pretend you're a phone line and you're sending him or her a busy signal. Fear not, there's a backup plan in place.  

Why ignore my dog? Dogs are pack-minded animals. Being ignored by your alpha, that’s serious stuff. This conveys that this behavior isn’t even worthy of being noticed. Dogs want to be noticed so they will change their behavior to get the desired results. That is your end game, your goal. You are re-training your Poodle to learn new and healthy behavior. 

Feeling some guilt will be normal. But, don't allow this to eat away at you (pun intended). You'd never give your dog something that would harm him or her. This behavior is harmful, so use ‘tough love' and stand firm. You will be so glad that you did. Later, when begging has stopped, you can interact with walks, grooming, snuggling, or other activities.
5. Have patience. As you are ignoring the begging behavior, you are going to start thinking that your Poodle simply will not stop. Your dog is like the famous battery commercial that seemingly has no end. However, it only seems that way. Your dog WILL stop when he figures out that what he’s doing will not make you budge. You have become a rock, an alpha who's not motivated by your Poodles' demands
6. Use refocusing, during a break. Since you want to 100% ignore begging, use this technique as soon as your Poodle takes a break. Elsewise, you can lead your dog to believe that begging may have not led to a treat, but did lead to some sort of fun. 

Once it’s quiet, walk to a preset place and conveniently drop an approved dog treat or a safe new toy for them to play with. Something that gets your Poodle’s mind off of their prior focus of begging is the goal. Don’t make a big deal of this. Just a casual toy or treat drop, and then off you go. If you make it seem like a significant reward with lots of ‘who's a good doggie', then you are only teaching them to beg in another manner.

If your Poodle is not a toy-loving kind of dog, then the distraction might need to be going for a walk, or out to play fetch. However, it cannot be stressed enough, do this only when the begging behavior has stopped and you have completely ignored it the entire time. 
7. Expect begging at the fridge, stove, and table. Most of the time, dogs beg for what they can see or smell. But, if it's out of sight, it can be out of mind. If you're cooking, eating, or rummaging through the fridge, this may be when your Poodle goes into begging high-gear.  

Expect this in advance. Be prepared by having some frozen juice cubes in the fridge (1/2 water, 1/2 100% pure apple juice) to casually drop down. Or, default to the treat or toy option. Having your Poodle gnawing away on a treat like Sam's Yams Veggie Sweet Potato Dog Treats while you eat is not a bad thing. 
8. Reward changed behavior. Praise is always a welcome reward. Let your Poodle know that he did good and that you're pleased by any new behavior and not the old actions. A calm dog during a meal is much nicer to be around and can bask in the praise of being a good pack member. Doing so will keep reinforcing the direction you want to go with your Poodle. 
9. Compensate in other areas. We, humans, tend to feel like monsters during this process, so while you're staying resolute in your Poodle training, offer attention in other ways. Trips, walks, grooming, time with friends or family, or learning new skills is great way to reinforce positive behaviors. 

A fun way to spend time together is puzzles that involve interactive skill solving. There are several brands on the market; the Outward Hound Treat Dispensing Brain and Exercise Game is a great one. These types of toys range in skill levels, so they don't get boring. 

A Final Word

Once your Poodle has been retrained not to beg, you will see that your dog is happier. There is less stress because you have resumed your proper role and set the example for the preferred behavior from your ‘pack.' Dogs are always happier with a clear understanding of their order in the pack, and that they aren't the boss, you are. This is logical to canines and causes them to feel secure and happ
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